The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-08-31
THE CATTLE INTEREST,
Talk of q Beef Famine-Heavy Losses b
the Producers,


CHICAGO, Aug. 26.-The Tribune this
Beef Ring, and no " it is profiting by the
low price OF cattle. 1t says it Is assumed
in many quarters that a beef famine is not
far away. Estimates as to the destruction
of cattle In the Northwest last winter are
that in Montana there were about 100000
head, in Idaho about 100 600, In Wyoming
about 800, 000 in Colorado about $4,000, or
8. SOC, 600 head in all. During the summer,
on account of the excessive drouth. it Is
estimated that the losses in the beef-pro-
duciDg States, such as Illinois, Iowa,
Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, and in New Next
CO, Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota and Dak0-
ia, swell the total to 100000 head OF
beeves. Many, however, assert these fig.
ures are far too high. But this is not the
main fact which indicates future famine.
II is now known that from fifty
were born this spring than is usual, owing
to climatic causes, which must have its eff
feet in time. To this must be added the
fact that cattle producers have been rush
ing their surviving stock on the market at
an unparalleled rate, and that from these
and other causes many ranchmen are dis.
couraged and are going out of business
Those that are opposed to this view argue
that there are still 2S, 600, 900 beeves and 3D.
bulk of these, however, enter into local
consumption and use. A great uneasiness
such as never before characterized the cat
tie business is manifest in business circles.
The producer finds not a dollar of profit
and more often heavy losses charged az ainst
his account.
The market price has been low on &C.
count of the glut. for in Chicago alone
over 100000 head of cattle have been thrust
rbnk n Los -
In order to get information on the cattle
question, fully 100 authorities have been
consulted, covering the entire productive
area, and the views of these men, together
with the facts obtained are brought together.
Only the commission man with his hand
full of business, seems happy. The producer
is pessimistic. The stock yards were
never in state of greater activity. The
receipts in a single day have been 1850
head of cattle, the largest known. Rang
ers from all parts of the country abound,
and each one has different story to tell.
The yards are OVERLOOKING with stock.
Money is IN great demand and prices are
regulated according to the necessity for
cash of the producers While some beeves
are in fine condition. the generality are
thin and tbirst-starved stock.
One thing that i'm presses the consumer
is that he gets beef no cheaper because the
producer sells it for so little. VINO is il
gets the big sum between the price paid
by tie producer and the consumer? It is
limited by ranchmen that it is a dressed
beef monopoly. Interstate commerce law:
have no terrors for these dressed beef men
The low price of beef is their opportunity
IL they feel to keep beef down they vii
quickly purchase all that il offered FOL
future delivery. These monopolists last
both sides, the prod ucer and consumer
alike. On every bnlIock there is prod
of $40 to the dressed beef MONOPOLY, and
| either loss or al even thing for the pro
ducer. The consumer pays monopoly tht
extra $40 profit.